Private practice success strategies from Lynn Grodzki, LCSW, MCC, based on her talk “Navigating the New Psychotherapy Marketplace” at the 2014 Psychotherapy Networker Symposium. Learn how to succeed in today’s competitive mental health marketplace where therapists face lower insurance reimbursements (mental health outlays reduced from 15% to 1% since 2000), fewer sessions per client, preference for medication over talk therapy despite evidence showing talk therapy equals or supersedes medication long-term, and utilitarian perceptions of therapy. Grodzki recommends adapting business strategies that work with educated consumer shoppers. Key areas covered: Marketing is critical (unique selling proposition, benefits vs features, preparation for negotiation), communicate persuasively (prepare for first contact without disadvantaging yourself, structure 15-30 minute consultations to give prospective clients experience of boundaries and your therapeutic style), and adapt working style (review results every session tracking goals and progress, set expectations using metaphors, partner with clients session-by-session). Includes detailed infographic summarizing main takeaways and guidance on fee negotiation, handling objections like “I need someone who takes my insurance,” and creating successful first contacts.
My 3 Words for 2015: Clear, Reach & Embrace!
My Three Words for 2015 Have you come up with some new goals or resolutions for the new year? If yes, you may want to consider putting them in writing. Writing down your goals will significantly increase the likelihood of your achieving them. As Brian Tracy eloquently states, “Goals in writing are dreams with deadlines.” […]
Can Personal Narratives Help You Be a Better Social Worker?
Narrating Social Work Through Autoethnography – Book Review Have you been looking for a good book to help you gain a deeper understanding of some topics particularly relevant to social work such as cultural competency, end of life, transformative change, and more? If yes, you are likely to appreciate Narrating Social Work Through Autoethnography, edited […]
AATBS’ Top 10 Exam Tips for the Social Work Licensure Exam
Virginia Beaufort, LMHC, Ph.D. Does one social work licensure exam preparation firm differ from another? Or are they all basically the same? This week, we have an interview with Virginia Beaufort, LMHC, Ph.D., the Director of Academic Affairs for the Association for Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences (AATBS). This is the fifth interview in Social Work Career Development’s […]
Family/Couples Therapy – Improving Relationships
Family and/or Couples’ Therapy Have you wanted to know what a family/couples’ therapist does and/or what you could do to improve the communications in your family unit? These are some of the questions explored in an interview with Laurel Wiig, Ph.D., MFT., who is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Laurel has advanced clinical training […]
40 Interview Questions Every Social Worker Needs to Know
Would you like to know what types of social work interview questions to expect or prepare for before heading out to an interview for a prospective new social work position? An earlier post had provided you with 20 basic social work interview questions every social worker needs to know for the interview preparation process. However, since then […]
Hoarding: Causes, Hazards and Strategies
Got a Client with a Hoarding Problem? Assess for Safety! How do you assess whether an individual has a hoarding problem? What questions do you ask to ascertain whether the person’s clutter is a safety/health concern? Individuals with compulsive hoarding disorder typically lack awareness of the severity of their behavior and may even deny that they […]
Social Justice: How Everyone Can Help Heal the World
Billions Rising: Empowering Self-Reliance Around the Globe – Book Review Do you wish you could come up with a solution to help end poverty? Are you a social worker, social justice advocate or other thoughtful person wondering how you can help make this world a better place? If yes, the book Billions Rising: Empowering Self-Reliance Around […]
LEAP’s Top 10 Tips for the Social Work Exam
Kym Meyer, M.B.A., C.B.E.P Have you wondered how one social work licensure exam preparation provider differs from another? This week, we have an interview with Kym Meyer, M.B.A., C.B.E.P, a former NASW state executive director and NASW Executive Director of the Year, and one of the founders of LEAP, a top social work licensure exam preparation firm. This […]
Got Triggered by Client in Therapy? Use Coping Tools!
Triggered in Therapy? 4 Resources To Cope & Be Effective Are you a social worker or other mental health professional who occasionally experiences some reactions or countertransference when working with a particular client? Would you like to have some tools to help you avoid getting triggered while in session? Lisa Schwarz, M.Ed. and Ron Schwenkler […]










